Tech: Cummins Racing Stripe Installation

[wildcat]

I received my Cummins Racing stripes from Rob at Diesel Decals here on the board. Rob did a Fantastic job making them and shipping them to me in a timely manner!
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In order to do a write up on the installation, I had to enlist the help of my friend, Kevin. There's just no way I'd be able to work the camera and use both hands applying a racing stripe sticker.
Here's a pic of some of the things you may need to put one of these on your truck:
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The first thing we did was mock the sticker up on the truck, so we could get an idea of where and how much to trim it. This also gives us a reference of where to align the sticker on the truck when it is going on. I wanted the “C” above quarter panel center, so we used the Fuel filler and tail light bulges as reference to get the “C” where we wanted it. We originally started with intentions of centering the entire stripe on the rear quarter panel, but decided it ended up too close to the rear wheel well at the bottom. After holding it up to the truck, we decided on 2-5/8” from the tail light line as our final location. Our tape was 5/8” wide, so we marked the truck at 2” and applied the tape for our reference line.
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While holding the sticker up to the truck, we made a mark where the sticker contacted the bedliner on my bedrails. We were able to come up with 10” from the top of the “C” to the bedliner line as the length needed to put the “C” where we wanted it on the truck. We mapped that out on the sticker, to ensure the “C” was Square on the truck.
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For the lower portion of the sticker, we held the sticker back up to the truck and just roughly estimated and trimmed it a little long at this point to make handling the sticker easier.
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Since we are using one side of the sticker for reference to square it on the truck, we trimmed the paper down to the sticker on the reference side.
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Next, we cleaned the side of the truck, then sprayed it down with soapy water. We used Baby Shampoo and water for our solution.

Peel the backing off the sticker, and align it over the area it is to be applied.
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With the soapy water on the truck, you will be able to adjust the location of the sticker. Align it correctly with the alignment tape.
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[wildcat]

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We started the squeegee operation from the top, and worked our way down.
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If the sticker moves a little, it’s ok, just realign it.
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Working down the sticker







Once we worked our way down the sticker, we applied heat and continued to Squeegee.




When you get all the bubbles and water squeezed out of the vinyl, you can start pulling the top layer of paper off.




Continue squeegee operation, and heating sticker to remove any bubbles that may still exist.
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[wildcat]

If squeegee starts gripping sticker, apply soapy water to squeegee, or to sticker to keep it sliding smoothly.



Once you are done, repeat steps for the other side!

finished pic!


Here are some daylight pics:

[DIRTYMAX2004]

looking good

[SPEAKSUP]

Looking good Bill but i thought you were going to get Hot Pink.

[wildcat]

Originally Posted by SPEAKSUP Looking good Bill but i thought you were going to get Hot Pink.

Nah. I just told you that so you would feel more comfy ordering Pink for yourself!

[CumminsCrazed]

id never be able to do that id have it sooooooo messed up

[wildcat]

Originally Posted by CumminsCrazed id never be able to do that id have it sooooooo messed up

It's so easy, a CAVE MAN can do it!


Seriously, tho', if you think you might have trouble, get someone in your area to help you out! Someone is bound to have some experience doing it....

[Red_Rattler]

Turned out awesome! Nice looking decal as well!

[Oilfield_Mafia]

Very Cool Bill! the truck really looks great

[wildcat]

Thanks, Jake and KC!!

[CumminsCrazed]

Originally Posted by wildcat It's so easy, a CAVE MAN can do it! Seriously, tho', if you think you might have trouble, get someone in your area to help you out! Someone is bound to have some experience doing it....

ok wel...lemme know when ya wanna take a vacation to warm sunny Iowa and help me.

[Hut]

I need to get a set of those for my truck, looks good

[biged681985]

good write up bill, ill be putting mine on this week sometime

[Red_Rattler]

BTW What the AC/DC Cummins sticker say on your back glass?